Voci's winter concert, "Midwinter's Idyll," is the eleventh in Voci's annual Voices in Peace series and features Charpentier's pastoral setting of the nativity story from Luke, lush and romantic selections by Rheinberger, Rachmaninoff and Dvorak, as well as sublime and other-worldly selections by Britten and Harvey.

The 2012-2013 season marks Voci Women’s Vocal Ensemble’s 21st year. Founded in 1991, Voci is recognized as one of the finest choral groups in the Bay Area. Led by artistic director Jude Navari, who is active throughout the Bay Area as a conductor and composer, the Ensemble has been described as having a particularly lush and ethereal quality. Voci champions music by women and for women and commissions new works by contemporary composers, especially from the San Francisco Bay Area. The group’s size of 18 voices conveys a poignant intimacy and allows for a deep, personal connection among chorus members and between chorus and audience. Voci’s commitment to musical excellence, unique mastery of style and technique, and adventurous and innovative programming have earned high praise from critics and choral musicians alike. The singers share a passionate love of music, fierce dedication to the ensemble, and deep commitment to the community.

This is Jude Navari's 13th year as Artistic Director of Voci. He has prepared choruses and conducted performances for Berkeley Opera, arranged folk music and coached rehearsals for Westwind International Folk Ensemble's chorus Westwind Voices, conducted premieres of new works by UC Berkeley graduate student composers for the Berkeley New Music Project, and served as Artistic Director of the Sacramento Men’s Chorus. In August 2001, Jude prepared the vocal ensemble for the West Coast Premiere of Philip Glass’s The Photographer at the Cabrillo Music Festival. Currently, Jude serves as Professor of Music and Director of Vocal Ensembles at Skyline College in San Bruno. Jude Navari received his Ph.D. in Music Composition from the University of California, Berkeley, where he also studied conducting with Marika Kuzma and Jung Ho Pak.

Assistant Conductor Edna Huelsenbeck is the founder and former director of the Pacific Women’s Chorus in San Diego, and Concentus Women’s Chorus in Rochester, NY. She previously served as Interim Director for the University Section Club Chorus at U.C. Berkeley and the Interim Assistant Director of the San Diego Master Chorale. She received her Master of Music degree from The University of Texas at Austin, where she studied conducting with Morris Beachy and Craig Hella Johnson.

Accompanist Heather Heise is a classically trained pianist with an interest in art song and twentieth-century contemporary music. She studied at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, earned her M.F.A. from Mills College, and has explored electronic music composition at UC Berkeley's Center for New Music and Audio Technologies. Heather investigates the creative process and writes on all aspects of music and performance for her blog In the Wings.

Normally announcements aren't meant to be replied to, but if you need to contact the author, click on the icon next to the author's name above.